Banana bread and green tea cookies

27 June 2014

From time to time Rijn makes dessert, yesterday was one of those days. He made banana bread with chocolate chips and a hint of honey. The chocolate chip and honey addition was a good combo, gave it a nice dense texture.

As for the green tea cookies, they are the result of me trying to bring some dessert to work on Fridays, to thank everyone for their work and so that I would have something to snack on as well. (Mostly the latter) It helps me try new recipes and practice making food as well, which is a plus.

Miso chicken and mango kulfi

26 June 2014

Today was one of those rare days where I cook. I don't cook very often because in general I like carb/protein/fat heavy foods, so it isn't entirely safe to eat often even if it is tasty.

My dish today is miso chicken served over brown rice garnished with some spring onions. I did add a few extra ingredients not listed in the recipe such as carrot, goji berries, bean curd, and rice wine.

The recipe specifies to add mirin, a sweet wine, but i feel that mirin is a bit too sweet for my dish. I reduced the amount of mirin, substituted the missing volume with rice wine, then made up for the lack of "sweetness" with carrots and goji berries. I added the bean curd because I like the texture and it soaks up extra flavors like a buffer.

 The dessert (made yesterday) is mango kulfi. Kulfi according to wikipedia is a frozen dairy dessert from India. I have added extra ingredients as well, using pinenuts and walnuts instead of pistachios, and I added raisins as well. This is garnished with almond flakes and cardamom powder. 

 I think I will need to let it heat for longer for a creamier texture, otherwise thaw the dessert in the fridge for 30-45 minutes before eating. Great for a hot day.

Cheese Soufflé

25 June 2014

The beginning of my new blog Rijn and Dine, where I catalog all the fantastic creations of my friend codenamed Rijn. Now I must say I am not an especially wordy person, so mostly these posts will be a description and some photos.

I first must apologize for not beginning this blog earlier, and missed out on cataloging several fantastic dishes by Rijn, so I will have to make some recap posts should I find those pictures stowed away somewhere.

Todays dinner consists of seasoned asparagus, oven roasted sausage, and the main dish of cheese soufflé (this e is made by alt+130, fyi)

Soufflés typically collapse upon itself after 5 to 10 minutes, so says wikipedia.

Fresh and delicious straight from the oven, like a fluffy cloud of cheese.

Until next time, Rijned and Dined